Re: More future history questions - UK

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I'm not so sure that the pacific nations have outsourced defence and
foreign policy to NZ, could more like the highest bidder. There has been
accusations of Japan paying pacific nations for their vote on whaling
and China has been looking to expand it's influence in the pacific as
the US withdraws to either exploit resources or gain a power projection
base.
 
For nations to benefit from a union there has to be mutual advantage.
Most of the small pacific nations have no economy and are often prickly
to deal with. There have been several stories about  serious graft and
corruption.
 
I am not sure why Australlia and NZ would want to take responsibility
for pacific islands. I can see lots of quid but little pro quo coming
back.
 
I thought the main reason the Scots wanted independance from England was
that they could the spend their oil revenues on pensions and prop up
their economy.
 
Places like East Timor, Solomons and Papua New Guniea could form part of
an oceanic union but they need to be contributing members not just a
cash drain for otherwise struggling economies.